Hvac delivery system in high volume low-speed fan

ABSTRACT

An HVAC delivery system to supply air from an HVAC system in proximity to a fan blade. A fan blade for use in a high volume, low-speed fan, wherein the fan blade includes a body portion, a leading edge portion and a trailing portion. The leading edge portion of the fan blade includes a series of steps extending along the length of the leading edge. The fan distributes airflow from the HVAC delivery system.

This application claims priority from Provisional Patent ApplicationSer. No. 62/332,191 filed May 5, 2016.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the design of a heating,ventilating and air conditioning (“HVAC”) unit used in conjunction withhigh volume, low-speed fans. More particularly, the present inventionpertains to the design of an apparatus to deliver chilled or heated airthrough an HVAC delivery system positioned to direct air through (or inclose proximity to) the centerline of the fan to a position wherein thefan blades influence the chilled or heated air. The HVAC delivery systemmay be used in conjunction with conventional ceiling fans or ceilingfans utilizing the Z-Tech™ stepped leading edge design.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The indoor environment is a significant concern in designing andbuilding various structures. Human and occupant comfort are largelyaffected by airflow, thermal comfort and relevant temperature. Airflowis generally defined as the measurable movement of air across a surface.Relative temperature is typically defined as the degree of thermaldiscomfort measured by airflow, temperature and humidity. Airflow thatimproves an employee health and productivity has been proven to have asignificant benefit on the attitude of employees. High volume low-speedceiling and vertical fans can provide significant energy savings andimprove occupant comfort in large commercial, industrial, agriculturaland institutional structures. High volume low-speed (HVLS) fans are thenewest ventilation option available today. These large fans, which rangein size from 8 to 24 feet, provide energy-efficient air movementthroughout a large volume building at a fraction of the energy cost ofhigh-speed fans.

The main advantage of an HVLS fan is its limited energy consumption. One20-foot fan typically moves approximately 125,000 cubic feet per minute(cfm) of air. It takes six to seven standard fans to provide similarvolume of air movement. An eight-foot fan can move approximately 42,000cfm of air. Most HVLS fans employ a 1 to 2 HP motor, moving the samevolume of air (for approximately one-third of the energy cost) of sixhigh-speed fans.

HVLS fans move large columns of air at a slow velocity, about 3 mph (260fpm). Air movement of as little as 2 mph (180 fpm) has been shown toprovide a cooling effect on the human body according to the Manual ofNaval Preventive Medicine. In fact, airflow at 2 mph will give a coolingeffect of approximately 5° F. (the air feels 5° F. cooler) and anairflow of 4 mph will provide a cooling effect of approximately 10° F.;that is, if the actual temperature was 75° F. with an airflow of 4 mph,the relative temperature would be 65°. The cooling effect is describedas the relative temperature. Moreover, it has been shown that turbulentairflow provides a more-effective cooling sensation than uniform airflowby David W. Kammel, et al., “Design of High Volume Low Speed FanSupplemental Cooling System in Free Stall Barns.”

A study done by the University of Wisconsin shows that HVLS systemsprovide more widespread air movement throughout the building or space tobe cooled. One disadvantage of traditional HVLS fans is that they havean area of “dead” air (air that has minimal air movement) in closeproximity to the centerline of the fan.

Although high-speed fans provide more velocity, each unit impacts only asmall, focused area. High-speed fans are good for managing extreme heat,although they can cause a dramatic increase in energy consumption in thehot, summer months. High-speed fans produce higher velocities in thearea directly surrounding each fan, leaving large areas of dead airoutside the diameter of the fan blades.

HVLS systems are sometimes used year-round. In summer, HVLS fans provideessential cooling; in winter, the fans move warmer air from ceiling tofloor level and may result in a more comfortable environment. HVLS fansare virtually noiseless. HVLS fans provide more comfort to individualspositioned in proximity to the fan, because the airflow causes a lowerrelevant temperature—that is, the air temperature feels cooler becauseof the movement of the air. The optimal airflow velocity for HVLS fansis typically between 2 to 4 miles per hour for most operations. Spacingthe fans too far apart will significantly diminish the system'sbenefits.

HVLS fans cost approximately $4,200-$5,000 each, including installation.While this is a large upfront investment, facility must use six to sevenhigh-speed fans at $200-$300 each to move the same volume of air as withone HVLS fan. Energy savings realized through the use of HVLS fans overa high-speed fan system should make up the cost difference within two tothree years. Manufacturers claim that HVLS fans typically do not requirereplacement for at least 10 years. Because high-speed fans operate ahigher RPM, the motors typically need to be replaced more frequentlythan with HVLS fans.

The components of a typical fan include:

-   -   An electromagnetic motor;    -   Blades also known as paddles or wings (usually made from wood,        plywood, iron, aluminum or plastic);    -   Metal arms, called blade mounts (alternately blade brackets,        blade arms, blade holders, or flanges), which hold the blades        and connect them to the motor;    -   A mechanism for mounting the fan to the ceiling.

While HVLS fans are utilized in commercial settings, in the residentialenvironment, the HVLS fan is generally called a “ceiling fan.”Typically, the ceiling fan has smaller dimensions than the HLVS fan, butoperate in a similar fashion. The ceiling fan rotates at a much slowerspeed than a high-speed fan. The ceiling fan introduces slow movement tootherwise still air, inducing evaporative cooling effect upon a humanpositioned within range of the ceiling fan. A ceiling fan does notactually cool the temperature of the air, rather the ceiling fanincreases airflow to create a lower relative temperature—the temperatureone feels impacted by the movement of air across the skin's surface. Therotation of the fan blade forces the air downward to create a wind-chilleffect upon any human standing in the vicinity of the fan, as shown inFIG. 8.

A ceiling fan is different from an air conditioning unit in that the airconditioning equipment reduces the actual temperature of the air in theroom, while the ceiling fan reduces the relative temperature experiencedby a personal to the movement of the air.

In the winter months, a ceiling fan may be used to reduce thestratification of warm air in a room—that is the air close to theceiling may be as much as 10° F. to 15° F. warmer than air near thefloor—by forcing the warmer air down toward the floor near the exteriorwalls of the room where windows and doors are located to more evenlydistribute the warm air without causing direct airflow on a personlocated under the fan, as shown in FIG. 9.

There exists a need for a HVLS fan or ceiling fan to operate incombination with an HVAC system. More importantly, there is a need forthe HVAC system to be a integral part of the HVLS fan or ceiling fansuch that the air distributed from the HVAC system operates to convergewith the air-flow created by the fan blades.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One of the aspects provided by the current invention is to have a HVACsystem as an integral part of the fan to provide air flow from the HVACsystem to the blades of the fan. The HVAC system is positioned in such amanner as to direct the heated or cooled air into the stream of aircreated by the movement of the fan blades of the fan. The preferredmethod of delivering the heated or cooled air of the HVAC system is todirect the air through the center portion of the fan. By directing theair through the center portion of the fan, the HVAC air is directed to aposition below the fan blades. If cool air is directed by the HVACsystem either immediately above or below the blades, the cool air may bepushed downward by the motion of the fan blades upon the cool HVAC air.This would act to further cool a person standing within the zone of thefan by introducing actual cool air in the space. The combination of coolair and the relative cooling effect of the fan blades greatly increasesthe beneficial effect of the fans.

Alternatively, when heated air is introduced by the HVAC system into thearea immediately above or below the fan blade, and the fan is operatingin the reversed position, the fan pulls the warmer air from a positionunder the fan upward and then distributes the warmer air situated at theceiling to mix with the cooler air located at the floor to increase theactual temperature of the room.

The present invention may incorporate a stepped design on the leadingedge of the fan blade. The leading edge of the fan blade is stepped suchthat the widest portion of the blade is located closest to the hub ofthe fan. The leading edge is stepped down from the hub at predeterminedintervals such that the width of the overall fan blade decreases at eachstep. The present invention includes a leading edge which extends beyondthe generally uniform width of a typical fan blade. The steps may be ofequal length whereby the first step closest to the hub is the samelength as the other steps. Thus, a preferred ratio of the width of thesteps of the leading edge in the present invention is approximately3:2:1. By way of example, the leading edge may be an additional threeinches from the width of the body portion in a typical fan blade, thesecond step is an additional two inches from the width of the bodyportion of a typical fan blade, and the third step is an additional oneinch from the width of the body portion of a typical fan blade. Thesteps provide for increased turbulent airflow. While the steps may be ofany proportion, it appears that steps of uniform proportion create theoptimal turbulent airflow. The stepped design of the fan blade isdescribed in patent application Ser. No. 14/814,161 and is incorporatedin its entirety by reference herein.

One of the benefits of incorporating the HVAC delivery system of thepresent invention with a stepped leading edge on the fan blade is thatmovement of the blade creates greater airflow velocity than the existingfan blade.

Another advantage of the stepped design is that it provides for a morebalanced airflow and greater coverage area.

Yet another advantage of the present invention is a greater velocity ofairflow in the “dead area” below the centerline of the fan. The heatedor cooled HVAC air is introduced into the fan blades at, or in closeproximity to the centerline of the fan. In a typical fan blade design,the area directly under the hub of the fan to a distance ofapproximately twenty feet from the hub does not receive a significantamount of airflow. This area was known as the “dead area.” The HVACdelivery system delivering air to the dead area provides for airflowdirectly under the fan. The stepped configuration of the leading edge ofthe fan blade even more dramatically impacts the airflow directly underthe fan.

While some of the advantages of the present invention are set forthabove, the full extent of the benefits of the present inventions will beunderstood in the drawings and detailed description of the preferredembodiments of the invention set forth below.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent uponreading the following detailed description and upon reference to thefollowing drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the fan of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the fan;

FIG. 2(a) is a section side elevation view of a fan of the presentinvention showing the HVAC system integral to the fan;

FIG. 2(b) is a section side elevation view of a fan of the presentinvention with the fan moving in the reverse direction, directing airupward toward the ceiling;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a fan blade of the present inventionshowing the stepped design;

FIG. 3(a) is a top plan view of an alternative design of the fan bladeof the current invention that includes five steps;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the fan blade of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a fan blade of the current inventionshowing three steps;

FIG. 5a is a perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the fanblade of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is graph of air speed versus distance from the center of the fan;

FIG. 7 is a cutout view of a offset motor gear box;

FIG. 8 is a side view of a flow diagram where the rotation of the fanblades force air in a downward direction; and

FIG. 9 is a side view of a flow diagram where the rotation of the fanblades force air in an upward direction.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

A typical high volume, low-speed fan has between four to eight fanblades. The fan blades are typically between 4-feet to 12-feet in lengthand have a width of 6 inches. Thus, the total diameter of a typical fanis between 8-feet (96 inches) to 24-feet (288 inches). Non-commercial,or residential fans typically have a span less than 8-feet.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIGS.1, 2, 2(a) and 2(b), the fan 10 is mounted to a ceiling 20. The fan 10is mounted to the ceiling 20 using a standard mount such as a universalI-Beam clamp with a swivel. The fan may also be mounted in conjunctionwith an HVAC system (not shown).

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 2(a) and 2(b), the fan 10 includes an HVACdelivery system 500. The HVAC delivery system 500, comprise a generallyhollow section 502 which connects to the HVAC system. In the preferredembodiment, the HVAC delivery system 500 is positioned along in closeproximity to the centerline 515 of the fan. Air from the HVAC system issupplied from the HVAC system (not shown) to the hollow section 502 ofthe HVAC delivery system 500. As shown in FIG. 2(a), the air from theHVAC system passes from the inlet 504 of the HVAC delivery system 500,to the lower outlet or lower exchanger 506 of the HVAC delivery system500. Air from the HVAC system may also be delivered above the planeformed by the fan blades 30 as shown by an upper air ducts or airexchanger 507. The fan blades 32 act upon the cool air 507 deliveredfrom the outlet 506 and the air ducts 501 of the HVAC delivery system500 such that air 507 is pushed downward by the fan blades 32 toward thelower segment of a room. The gear mechanism 516 and gear motor 501 ofthe fan 10 may operate in a reverse manner to pull the air supplied fromthe outlet 506 of the HVAC delivery system 500 by the movement of fanblades 32. As shown in FIG. 2(b), the air from the HVAC system passesfrom the inlet of the HVAC delivery system 500, to the lower outlet 506,whereupon the fan blades 32 act upon the warm air 509 delivered from theoutlet 506 such that the air 509 is pulled upward toward the ceiling ofthe room. The air ducts 501 are not shown in FIG. 2(b), but may beemployed if so desired.

The gear motor 501 and gear mechanism 516 is typically an off-set PMelectromagnetic motor. The horsepower of the motor varies depending uponthe diameter of the entire fan 10. For example, an 8-foot and 12-footfan typically has a 1 horsepower gear motor 501. The 16-foot fantypically includes a 1.5 horsepower gear motor 501, and a 20-foot and24-foot fan typically has a 2.0 horsepower gear motor 501. Attached tothe gear motor 501 is a fan blade mount/gear 503 that has a centerline515 at the center of the fan to which the fan blades 32 are mounted. Thegear motor 501 operates in cooperation with the gear mechanism 516 andthe blade mount/gear 503 to turn the fan blades 32. The gear mechanism516 may be offset from the centerline 515 of the fan. Alternatively, thegear mechanism 516 may be positioned along the centerline 515 of thefan. FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b) show the gear mechanism 516 in the offsetposition relative to the centerline 515 of the fan. The position of theHVAC delivery system 500 in proximity to the centerline 515 is theimportant to the function of the invention.

The preferred embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes five fan blades30, however, there may be a greater number of fan blades, or there maybe less than five fan blades. Each fan blade 30 has a leading edge 32,and a trailing edge 34 and an end cap 36. The fan blade 30 includes ablade body 38. The blade body 38 is typically made of an extrudedaluminum alloy, but could be made of a composite metal, carbon fibermaterial, a graphite material, fiberglass, wood or other similarmaterial. The leading edge 32 of the fan blade has steps 40, 42, 44 (asshown in FIGS. 2 and 3) from the portion of the leading edge 32 fanblade 30 positioned closest to the centerline 15 of the fan blade mount15.

The stepped configuration of the leading edge 32 of the fan blade isshown in more detail in FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5. The leading edge 32 of thefan blade 30 has a first step 40, a second step 42 and a third step 44.The steps extend from the blade body 38. The leading edge 32 of the fanblade 30, including the first step 40, the second step 42 and the thirdstep 44, are preferably made of an extruded polymer material, such ashigh-impact polystyrene, but may be constructed of a composite plasticmaterial, graphite, fiberglass, carbon fiber, aluminum or any materialhaving similar features and properties to the identified materials.

The steps 40, 42 and 44 preferably have generally equal lengthsproportional to the length of the blade body 38. Thus, the first step 40would be approximately ⅓ the total length 39 of the blade body 38. Thesecond step would also be approximately ⅓ the total length 39 of theblade body 38. Likewise, the third step would be approximately ⅓ thetotal length 39 of the blade body 38. The steps 40, 42 and 44 have awidth in a ratio of 3:2:1. Thus, the distance that the first step 40extends beyond the front edge of the blade body 38 is 3-inches; thedistance the second step 42 extends 52 is 2-inches and the third step 44extends 54 is 1-inch. The ratio of the distance the various steps 40, 42and 44 extend beyond the front edge of the blade body 38 is 3:2:1. Whilethe preferred embodiment has steps of proportional length andproportional width, it is not a requirement. The important aspect of thestep configuration is that the leading edge has multiple steps from thearea of the fan blade 30 closest to the hub. The steps decrease thethickness of the blade in each step that proceeds from the hub.

While the preferred number of steps is three with a ratio of 3:2:1, thenumber of steps may be more than three, so long as the ratio of lengthof the steps corresponds to the number of steps and the distances thevarious steps extend beyond the front edge of the blade body is a ratioequal to the number of steps. FIG. 3(a) shows a blade that has fivesteps. By way of example, a 20-foot diameter fan would have a fan blade130 of approximately 10-foot in length 139. The ratio of the steps inthe preferred embodiment would be 5:4:3:2:1. Each step 140, 142, 144,146, and 148 would be approximately 2 feet in length 156. The overallfan width 155 should not exceed 9-inches in the preferred embodiment. Afan blade 30 that exceeds a width of 9-inches may cause an undesirableload to be placed on the motor. It is, of course, possible for thedistance to be greater than 9-inches if one chooses to construct a fanusing a non-conventional fan motor. In the above example of the 5 stepfan blade, the distance from the front edge of the fan body 38 to theleading edge of the step 40 should not necessarily exceed 3 inches. Inthe embodiment of a 5 step fan blade (FIG. 3(a)), the distance of thefirst step 50 would be approximately 3-inches. Each step would thendecrease by 6/10 of an inch.

FIG. 4 is a side view of one of the preferred embodiments of the fanblade of the present invention which has 3 steps. The blade 30 includesa leading edge 32. The leading edge 32 includes a series of steps 40, 42and 44. The distance between the first step 40 and the second step 42 ofthe leading edge 32 is shown as 56. Likewise, the distance between thesecond step 42 and the third step 44 is shown as 58. The blade 30 has anupper portion 35 and a lower portion 37. The blade 30 also has arearward portion 34. The steps 40, 42 and 44 along the leading edge 32of the blade 30 provides vortex along the edge of the steps 60 and 62.The vortex created at the edges of the steps 60 and 62 create a greaterturbulent airflow below the fan. The vortex created at the edges of thesteps 60 and 62 also provide for greater airflow velocity in the areanear the centerline 15 of the fan.

The pitch P of the blade 30 is approximately 22°. The design of thesteps 40, 42 and 44 along the leading edge 32 of the blade 30 permitsfor the blade to accommodate up to a 22° pitch. Conventional HVLS fanstypically have a pitch for the blade between 10°-15°. The stepped designof the leading edge of the fan blade allows for a pitch between 18° to22° to be implemented without increasing the strain of the motor. Theincreased pitch promotes more downward airflow.

The steps 40, 42 and 44 along the leading edge 32 of the fan blade 30have edges 60 and 62, respectively. The edges 60 and 62 of the preferredembodiment have a recessed or Z-shaped configuration. This configurationis for aesthetic purposes. As shown in FIG. 5(a), the steps 240, 242 and244 have edges 260 and 262 that are at approximately a 90° angle to theleading edge 232 of the fan blade 230. The configuration of the edges260 and 262 does not affect the function of the fan blade 230.

An actual embodiment of the preferred invention, without the HVACdelivery system 500, was tested at a warehouse facility in Beaver Dam,Wis. The height of the facility was twenty-five feet from the floor tothe ceiling. The high volume, low-speed fan was a 24-foot diameter fanthat was mounted twenty feet from the floor—in other words, the fan hadapproximately a five foot drop from the ceiling. The fan had five bladesincluding three steps on each blade as depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4. Theaverage velocity of the air was measured using a wind velometer gauge.The air velocity was measured at a height of 48-inches above the levelof the floor. Measurements were taken at various distances, atapproximately three foot intervals, from the centerline 18 of the fan.Measurements were taken at each location using the wind velometer gaugeover a time period of approximately thirty seconds. Because the airflowis not constant, the maximum and minimum airflow measurements wererecorded over the thirty second period. The maximum and minimum velocityreadings over the thirty second period were averaged and are set forthin the chart below:

Distance from Velocity Center of Fan (Feet) (Miles Per Hour) 3 2.3 6 3.09 4.0 12 2.8 15 4.0 20 3.0 23 3.1 26 2.3 30 1.9 33 2.9 36 3.0 42 2.0 462.7 50 2.0 53 1.9 58 1.1 62 1.1FIG. 6 is a graph of the average velocity in MPH of airflow created bythe circulation of the fan 10 utilizing the blades 30 of the preferredembodiment at various distances from the centerline 18 of the fan. Asshown in FIG. 6, for example, at approximately 8-feet and 16-feet fromthe centerline 18 of the fan, the average velocity of airflow 48-inchesabove the ground was 4 miles per hour. The human body typically feels 6°to 10° F. cooler (Relative Temperature) than the ambient temperature ofthe air when the air is circulating at 4 miles per hour. At airflow at avelocity of 2 miles per hour, the human body fees 3 to 5° cooler thanthe ambient temperature of the air. The benefit of the fan design is agreater velocity of air circulation is achieved within close proximityto the centerline 14 of the fan.

The design of the present invention of placing an HVAC delivery system500 along, or in close proximity to, the centerline 515 of the fanachieves movement of the air exiting the outlet 506 (and air ducts 501)of the HVAC delivery system 500. Cool air 507 (or heated air 509 if thefan is reversed) exiting the upper air exchanger 507 or lower exchanger506 (and air ducts 501) of the HVAC delivery system 500 along thecenterline 505 of the fan is disbursed along the fan blades 32. Thus,the cooled air 507 (or heated air 509) interacts with the airflowcreated by the fan blades 32 to more evenly disbursed the cooled air 507(or heated air 509) in the vicinity of the fan.

The stepped fan blade design has significant airflow coverage andoverall air dispersion when used in connection with the HVAC deliverysystem 500 positioned along the centerline 515 of the fan. The fan ofthe current invention has minimal airflow dead spots, especially withinclose proximity to the centerline 515 of the fan 10.

The fundamental operating principals and indeed many of the engineeringcriteria of fan blades for high volume low-speed ceiling fans is similarto fan blades used in basically all forms of compressors, fans andturbine generators. In other words, the rotor blades can be used in ahuge range of products such as for example, for helicopter blades, carfans, air conditioning units, water turbines, thermal and nuclear steamturbines, rotary fans, rotary and turbine pumps, and other similarapplications.

Although embodiments of the present invention have been described, thoseof skill in the art will appreciate that variations and modificationsmay be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof asdefined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A combination ceiling fan and HVAC delivery system comprising: a mounting apparatus; a motor mounted to said mounting apparatus; an gear mechanism coupled to said motor; a plurality of fan blades forming a centerline, the fan blades engage the gear mechanism to rotate the fan blades around the centerline; each of the fan blades having a body portion, a top portion, a leading edge portion and a trailing portion; wherein the leading edge portion of the fan blade is configured to include a plurality of steps extending along a length of the leading edge portion of each fan blade; an HVAC delivery system mounted within the fan having an HVAC inlet positioned to accommodate an HVAC system and an HVAC outlet positioned at, or in close proximity to the centerline of the fan, wherein the HVAC outlet supplies air from the HVAC system in an impact area of the fan blades.
 2. The combination fan and HVAC delivery system of claim 1 further comprising an air exchanger configured to distribute air at a location above the plane formed by the plurality of fan blades.
 3. The combination fan and HVAC delivery system of claim 1 further comprising an air exchanger configured to distribute air at a location below the plane formed by the plurality of fan blades.
 4. The combination fan and HVAC delivery system of claim 1 further comprising an air exchanger configured to distribute air at a location above and below the plane formed by the plurality of fan blades.
 5. The combination fan and HVAC delivery system of claim 1 wherein the fan comprises a high volume, low speed fan.
 6. The combination fan and HVAC delivery system of claim 5 further comprising an air exchanger configured to distribute air at a location above the plane formed by the plurality of fan blades.
 7. The combination fan and HVAC delivery system of claim 5 further comprising an air exchanger configured to distribute air at a location below the plane formed by the plurality of fan blades.
 8. The combination fan and HVAC delivery system of claim 5 further comprising an air exchanger configured to distribute air at a location above and below the plane formed by the plurality of fan blades.
 9. A combination ceiling fan and HVAC delivery system comprising: a mounting apparatus; a motor mounted to said mounting apparatus; an gear mechanism coupled to said motor; a plurality of fan blades forming a centerline, the fan blades engage the gear mechanism to rotate the fan blades around the centerline, said fan blades further forming a plane; an HVAC delivery system mounted within the fan having an HVAC inlet positioned to accommodate an HVAC system and an HVAC outlet positioned in close proximity to supply air from the HVAC system to the impact area of the fan blades.
 10. The combination fan and HVAC delivery system of claim 9 further comprising an air outlet configured to distribute air at a location above the plane formed by the plurality of fan blades.
 11. The combination fan and HVAC delivery system of claim 9 further comprising an air outlet configured to distribute air at a location below the plane formed by the plurality of fan blades.
 12. The combination fan and HVAC delivery system of claim 9 further comprising an air outlet configured to distribute air at a location above and below the plane formed by the plurality of fan blades.
 13. The combination fan and HVAC delivery system of claim 9 wherein the fan comprises a high volume, low speed fan.
 14. The combination fan and HVAC delivery system of claim 13 further comprising an air outlet configured to distribute air at a location above the plane formed by the plurality of fan blades.
 15. The combination fan and HVAC delivery system of claim 13 further comprising an air outlet configured to distribute air at a location below the plane formed by the plurality of fan blades.
 16. The combination fan and HVAC delivery system of claim 13 further comprising an air outlet configured to distribute air at a location above and below the plane formed by the plurality of fan blades.
 17. The combination fan and HVAC delivery system of claim 14, wherein the HVAC outlet is positioned at or close proximity to the centerline of the fan.
 18. The combination fan and HVAC delivery system of claim 15, wherein the HVAC outlet is positioned at or close proximity to the centerline of the fan.
 19. The combination fan and HVAC delivery system of claim 16, wherein the HVAC outlet is positioned at or close proximity to the centerline of the fan. 